Tarek Mehanna was convicted in December of four terror-related charges, and of lying to investigators, who say Mehanna tried to help al-Qaeda translate and distribute publications and also sought training at a terrorist camp in Yemen, so he could fight U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

His attorney has asked for minimal prison time, and Mehanna has written the judge, highlighting his work as a teacher and future plans to help people, in hopes of leniency. That judge is scheduled to hand down the terror convict’s sentencing this week.